in this issue - St. George Greek Orthodox Church

5.13
St. George Greek
Orthodox Church
VOLUME 19, ISSUE 5
MAY 2013
St. Paul, Minnesota
Dear Brothers & Sisters in
Christ:
H
in this issue
On Cremation
P.2
Registry
P.3
Parish News P.4- 5
Youth
P.7
opefully, you’ll
receive this
newsletter before
Pascha/Easter on
May 5th. I would like to take
the opportunity to thank everyone who made this Great
and Holy Lent extra special by
attending the Lenten worship
services, preparing the Lenten
meals and listening to the
Lenten lectures. Our Lenten
retreat with Dr. Kyriacos
Markides was a smashing success with the largest attendance numbers ever in the
eight years we’ve been hosting.
By May 1st we are already in
the midst of Holy Week and
we look forward to the visit of
our chancellor, His Grace
Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos,
on Holy Friday May 3rd for the
Apokatheilosis (Descent from
the Cross Vespers). His Grace
will be visiting all the Greek
Orthodox Churches in Minnesota this weekend. We pray
safe travels for him and thank
him for being with us.
As you already know, the
Festival of Nations is occurring
on the same weekend. Our
parish council president has
made arrangements for paid
help so that we can attend the
worship services of Holy
Week. Thanks to Tom and all
the volunteers who will be
working that weekend especially during the busy days of
Thursday and Friday.
On Pascha night, after the
Resurrection Liturgy, Jason
Barbes and his team of volunteers will once again prepare
and serve a delicious lamb dinner. Please be sure to thank
them and help them clean up
afterwards.
Regarding Youth ministry,
we still anxiously await word
from the government immigration service on the status of our
tentatively hired youth minister, Lydia Lekka. We pray for a
positive affirmation of her
status so she can begin working with our parents and
youth. In the meantime, we
will continue with our normal/
regular youth activities of Holy
Week including the cleaning
and decorating of the sanctuary on Lazaros Saturday, the
youth retreat on Holy Friday
and the Easter egg hunt on
Pascha Sunday after Agape
Vespers. Of course, the best
activity for our youth is to participate in the worship services. Nothing speaks to their
hearts and souls like Orthodox
worship.
Even after Holy Week and
Pascha, May continues to be a
busy month with St. George
Feastday, FOCUS dinner, Retreat Groundbreaking, Metropolis Oratorical, Mother’s
Day, Graduation Sunday and
Memorial Day weekend.
As is our normal parish practice, we celebrate the Feast of
St. George on Bright/Renewal
Tuesday morning with Liturgy
and breakfast following. St.
George of course is the patron
saint of our beloved parish.
The FOCUS Fundraising
Dinner will take place Bright
Friday evening at St. Mary
OCA Cathedral. We hope to
have at least one table of our
parishioners in attendance. See
bulletin and newsletter for detailed info.
Also on that day will be the
Groundbreaking ceremony for
the new lodge and cabins at
the St. Iakovos Retreat Center
in Brighton, Wisconsin, preceded by the Divine Liturgy of
the Life-Giving Spring of the
Theotokos (Feast Day of the
chapel) and lunch. If you’re
not able to attend, please consider a donation to help.
Thanks!
The Metropolis Oratorical
Festival will be held at my former parish of Kimissis tis Theotokou in Racine, Wisconsin
on Bright Saturday, May 11th.
We pray a edifying participation for all including our own
kids: Marissa Mortari, Bill
Chadwick and Lily Lampros.
We wish a blessed Mother’s
Day (with thanks) to all our
mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers and godmothers!
For Graduation Sunday, be
sure to submit the following
info for our high school and
college graduates: name,
photo, school, diploma/degree,
achievements/honors and future plans. Congrats to all in
advance!
Hopefully, the inscriptions
will be completed on the Roselawn Cemetery monument for
our memorial service that will
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1)
be offered on Sunday May 26th after the
Divine Liturgy at church. Please submit
the names of your departed loved ones to
me before the service. May their memory
be eternal!
We continue this month with our series
on Orthodox Christian Ethics. So far
we’ve learned about gambling and traditional marriage. This month we’ll cover
Cremation. It’s been five years since I
gave this sermon and we published in the
Glad Tidings. We know that cremation is
becoming a more common practice, even
greater than traditional burials. This is
problematic for Orthodox Christians
since and hopefully this month’s article
will enlighten us on the reasons why.
If you receive this before May 5th, I wish
you “Kalo Pascha kai Kali Anastasi!” If
after, I greet you with “Christos Anesti!”
Blessed Holy Week and Pascha – Christ is
Risen! Truly He is Risen!
+Fr. Rick
Orthodox Christian Ethics
Cremation
Introduction
“Ashes to ashes and dust to dust” is a
common phrase we hear associated with
funeral practices. This first appeared in
the Church of England’s Book of Common
Prayer in 1549. The phrase “dust to dust”
has some biblical origin from Gen. 3:19
and Ecclesiastes 3:20 but the words “ashes
to ashes” do not appear anywhere in the
bible. As we will see from Alvin Schmidt’s
book, “Dust to Dust or Ashes to Ashes? A
Biblical and Christian Examination of Cremation”, the scriptures never instruct people
to burn dead bodies turning them into
ashes (p.67).
History of Cremation
Cremation comes from Latin word
“cremare” meaning “to burn” (p.6).
Some historical reasons for cremating the
dead were (p.7):
1) To cope with fear of the dead.
2) To enable easy transportation of bones
back to homes or other places.
3) To prevent bodies from being stolen by
thieves and miscreants.
4) Belief that fire freed the soul from wandering and searching.
5) Belief that fire purifies the deceased
person’s soul.
By the latter part of the fourth century, the
burning of human corpses had become
increasingly rare in the Roman Empire.
Likely, the consistent Christian rejection
page 2
of cremation, long before Christianity became legal, was having an empire-wide
impact (p.18-19).
sembling dried fertilizer pellets, the latter
comprising at least half of the total remains. Sometimes a white colored substance is added to make the ashes look
Cremation begins reappearing in the West more attractive (p.24). As a result of packfollowing the efforts of Prussian proage leakages, UPS and FedEx refuse to
cremationists in 1855, when an internatransport ashes of cremated bodies. Sometional congress of medical experts met in times, human ashes are mixed with ashes
Florence in 1869 contending that earthfrom another person or other sources.
burial was unhygienic (p.19). Cremation
Burial in Ancient Judaism
appealed not only to atheists and freeThe Hebrews/Israelites in the Old Testathinkers but it was commonly requested—usually as an act of rebellion by ment era lived and were surrounded by
pagan societies: Canaanites, Amorites,
Spiritualists, Theosophists, Unitarians,
Universalists, anti-clerics and anti-church Edomites, Hittites, Philistines and others.
Through the prophets, God frequently
types (p.30). In 1875 the Cremation Sowarned the Israelites not to adopt the pacietys in England and New York are
gan values, beliefs, or practices of those
formed (p.20).
societies such as worshipping pagan polyCremation rates in United States have in- theistic gods, marrying pagan wives, encreased dramatically over the last several gaging in homosexual practices, eating
decades, from .003% in 1900, .04% in 1920, unclean food, sacrificing infants, and
making graven images of pagan idols
3.5% in 1960, to 27% in 2001 and are ex(p.31).
pected to rise to 40% by year 2010 (p.21).
What is Cremation?
Cremation is not a completely accurate
term for the burning of a deceased person.
Human bones do not burn because they
contain about 60% inorganic, noncombustible matter (p.23). Thus, the unburned bone portions are pulverized in
today’s crematoria by a grinding process
that reduces them to small granules re-
In the OT, earth burial was the norm for
treating deceased persons. Cremation was
used only as punishment and humiliation
for those who engaged in grievous, sinful
acts as recorded in Joshua 7:15; Leviticus
21:9; 20:14. Cremation was also an instrument of God’s wrath as He destroyed certain peoples by fire as recorded in Num(Continued on page 6)
St. Paul. MN
Registry
Church Staff and Office
Hours
Births
March 12, 2013
Panayiotis. Parents are Dina & Eric Negron; grandmother is Aristea Kontinakis.
40-Day Churching
March 3, 2013
Tamara Merkouris and baby, Nicholas.
Address Updates
Church Office Hours
(Mon., Wed., Thurs. & Fri.)
8:00 AM—2:15 PM
(Tues.)
Noon—6 PM
Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius
Andrews, Presbyter
(651) 222-6220
Email: FatherRick@usa.com
Pres. Patra Sevastiades
2603 Greysolon Rd
Duluth, MN 55812
Administrative Assistant
Peter Poulos
117 Victoria Blvd
Mankato, MN 56001
Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org
Kally B Fuller
1266 93 Ave W
Duluth, MN 55808
John Lambros
3200 Lake Johanna Blvd Apt# 201 St. Paul, MN 55112
Kathryn Schuster
3741 Towndale Dr
Bloomington, MN 55431
Dominic Osterman
1034 Montclair Ave
Mounds View, MN 55112
Niki Kontinakis-Youso
19841 Itea Ave
Lakeville, MN 55044
rd
(651) 222-6220
Tom Lampros,
Parish Council President
(651) 644-3924
Email: tlampros@hotmail.com
Reva Adkins,
Philoptochos President
(651) 337-1118
Email: rradkins@comcast.net
Festal Icons Needed
Andrea Faches,
Sunday School Director
(507) 665-8053
Email: afaches@msn.com
Please donate a Festal Icon (11" x 14") in memory of a loved one. The cost is $75.00
Stella Hofrenning,
Greek School Director
651-917-2668
per icon. The icons are displayed in the church nave and are put out for veneration
on the Feast Day of the Saint or event they represent. To donate an icon, fill out a
form (found on the bulletin board by the kitchen) and return it to the office.
Jennifer Argeros,
Glad Tidings—Editor
Email: GladTidings
@stgeorgegoc.org
Andrea Faches & Eric Chadwick,
Loaves and Fishes Coordinators
Email: afaches@msn.com
Submissions for upcoming issues
are due by the 11th of the preceding
month.
Jesus Rebukes the Sea
Healing the Multitude
page 3
Parish
News
Pledge Card Mailing
Many parishoners recently received a letter stating that we have not received your
stewardship pledge card. The letter referred to an enclosed pledge card and return envelope but unfortunately those
were not included in the mailing. Thus,
we will have stewardship cards and return envelopes available in the pews.
However, if you would like them mailed
to you, please contact Emmy Maschke in
the church office by phone 651-222-6220
or office@stgeorgegoc.org and she will
mail them to you. Thanks for your patience and support!
Bishop at St. George
Bishop Demetrios will visit our parish on
Holy Friday May 3rd for Apokatheilosis
(Descent from Cross Vespers).
New Version of Christ is Risen Hymn
Our parish will use a new version of this
hymn for our upcoming celebration of
Holy Pascha. This English translation and
musical notation is authorized and
adopted by the Holy Eparchial Synod of
the Archdiocese.
Pascha Lamb Dinner
Again this year we are receiving donations for the lamb meal after Resurrection
Liturgy on May 5th. If you would like to
make a donation please talk to Jason Barbes. 612-926-0281 or
jason.barbes@yayab.com
FOCUS on FOCUS
This year’s FOCUS fundraiser dinner will
be held Friday May 10th, 2013 at St.
Mary`s Orthodox Cathedral. Tickets are
$50/ea ($25 tax deductible) and can be
page 4
purchased from Sandra Thole, 651-4832294. Please help support this wonderful
outreach program to continue our mission
to help those who are least among us.
Philoptochos News
There is no meeting in May; Decades
Birthday Party in June. Please advise Reva
Adkins if you are celebrating a decade
birthday (i.e. 30, 40…)
Groundbreaking Ceremony
The St. Iakovos Retreat Center celebrates
the groundbreaking for the phase two
building program (main lodge & two cabins) on Bright/Renewal Friday May 10th.
For more info: www.metropolisretreat.org
Daughters of Penelope News
We will be on vacation from May—
August. Watch for more information on
the AHEPA Night Out.
Graduation Sunday
We will celebrate our graduates on May
19th. Please email Fr. Rick with details of
your graduating student, including their
name, photo, school, degree/diploma,
achievements/honors and future plans.
We will publish that information and recognize them that Sunday. Congratulations
in advance!
Support Our Police & Citizens
Two events are on the horizon for this
effort. The first is the annual St. Paul Police Department Memorial Service on
Wednesday May 15th , 11am at Mears
Park in downtown St. Paul. This service
honors all the officers who have fallen in
the line of duty in the 150 year history of
the department.
The second is the 11th Annual Walk to
Remember/Hope sponsored by Survivor
Resources on Monday May 20th, 6pm at
Como Park. This event memorializes
loved ones and is the main fundraiser for
SR who helps grieving families after the
loss of loved ones. For more info, contact
Fr. Rick or go to
www.survivorresources.org. Thanks for
your prayers and support!
Lost & Found
Please be sure to check the lost and found
basket on top of the coat rack at the bottom of stairs, and claim any items for you
or your friends.
The District 14 Convention will be June 79 in Waterloo, Iowa.
The AHEPA Family Supreme Conventionwill be held August 18-24 in Orlando,
Florida.
Summer Church Camp
Registration is already underway and
church camp will held at Camp Wapo
June 29 to July 5, 2013. The cost is $450/
camper. Registration closes on May 30th.
For more info: www.stmaryscamp.com
Summer Church Camp Scholarships
The James Nickitas Camp Scholarship is
awarded to worthy applicants in need of
financial assistance who are members of
St. George Greek Orthodox Church in
Saint Paul. Please contact Fr. Rick for an
application.
The Presbytera Mary Coniaris and James
H. Zubulake full scholarships will be
awarded to two essayists. Based on the
2013 theme for camp of “face God,” this
year’s essay question is, “How do I make
time each day to face God?” There are two
divisions: Junior Division - children entering 3rd- 6th grades Fall 2013; 250-word
(typed) essay. Senior Division - teens entering 7th- 12th grades Fall 2013; 500word (typed) essay. Deadline is Friday
May 24, 2013. Please submit entries to: Fr
Christopher Wojcik htoc@amerytel.net.
St. Paul. MN
Metropolis Clergy-Laity
The biennial Greek Orthodox Metropolis
of Chicago Clergy-Laity-Philoptochos Assembly will take place October 2-4, 2013 in
Sioux City, Iowa hosted by the Holy Trinity parish. For more info:
www.chicago.goarch.org or
www.holytrinity.ia.goarch.org.
Thank you!
Pres. Eileen Simon and Minda Arsenault
extend their sincere thanks to everyone
who donated money, food and their time
working the Lenten retreat. We appreciate
all the wonderful help and support we
received.
Parish Council Treasurer’s Report
January - March 2013
Income $57,297
Expenses $82,997
Percent of Budget 102%
Stewardship $47,534
Stewardship percent of goal 84%
Comparison to 2012
Income $53,731
Expenses $79,587
Percent of Budget 105%
Stewardship $47,750
Stewardship percent of goal 86%
CPA transition is progressing well, our accounting is streamlined
into one company, stewardship and bank accounts are balanced
monthly. Resolution of prior year accounts continues.
Parish Council President’s Remarks - April 7, 2013, Parish Assembly
We are so blessed at St. George. Thank God for all we have here. Also thanks to all of you that make this community, its ministries and our programs possible. At this time of year, Great Lent, the vibrancy of our church is especially obvious due to the extra services and additional visitors we host at the Lenten Retreat, Pan Orthodox vespers and dinner, and at the Wednesday and Friday night speaker series. Special thanks to Fr. Rick, the chanters,
and the choir who perennially rise to the demands of Great Lent. In addition to those volunteers who so graciously organize these events and related meals, it would be great to see even more of our own parishioners participate in all of these services and programs. The number of visitors drawn to our church by these events has
been impressive this year and those visitors are in turn impressed by what this Parish can offer. In addition to the
Great Lent activities, we continue to maintain all our programs and ministries, so I also say Thank You to all the
volunteer leaders and participants of: Philoptochos, Loaves and Fishes, FOCUS, Sunday School, the choir, the
chanters, readers, altar servants, book store, Glad Tidings and publications, Parish Council, Greek School, Greek
Dancers, Daughters of Penelope, AHEPA, the American Legion, to all of our pledgers and donors, and to festival
and other Fundraiser volunteers. And to those of you who bring your babies and children and support your elderly and sick so that they can attend services and participate in these programs. And to any groups I may have
missed… THANK YOU.
All of these ministries that you make happen unite us with God and drive a family-like atmosphere in our Parish.
Finally, I thank you and the Parish Council for allowing me to serve as your Council President again this year.
(Excerpt from introductory remarks at the April 7, 2013, Parish Assembly meeting)
page 5
(Continued from page 2)
bers 11:1-3; 16:35; Joshua 7:15,24-26;
2Kings 1:10-12 and famously the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24
(p.35-36).
The Lord says through the prophet Amos,
“For three sins of Moab, even for four, I will
not turn back my wrath, because he burned, as
if to lime, the bones of Edom’s king” (2:1-2).
This is argued as a clear denunciation of
cremation. (p.37)
The Israelites treated the body of a dead
person with great respect by closing the
eyes (Gen.46:4); washing the body (Acts
9:37); draping a napkin over the dead person’s face (John 11:44); anointing with aromatic spices (Lk.23:56; 24:1; Jn.19:40) and
wrapping with linens (Mt.27:59; Mk.15:45;
Lk.23:53; Jn.19:39-40).
Christian arguments against Cremation
1. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
died on the Cross and was buried.
(Nicene Creed) We should imitate Jesus.
2. Everyone will be bodily resurrected in
the Second Coming of Christ. Cremation
is a denial of the bodily resurrection.
3. The human body is a sacred sanctuary
even after physical death.
4. Cremation with God’s blessing is never
mentioned in the Old Testament
5. We must not be conformed to this
world (Romans 12:2) especially as cremation becomes more common.
Benefits of Earth Burial
Cemeteries provide consecrated ground
for survivors to visit the graves and honored loved ones. These visits reminded
survivors of the brevity and uncertainty of
their own lives and our inevitable destination to leave this world and meet our Lord
(p.28). Studies show that survivors of the
deceased who are cremated express less
grieving and weeping at time of funeral,
rarely visit the site where their relatives or
loved ones are kept, especially with those
page 6
whose ashes are scattered.
Relics of the Saints
It is well known among church historians
that the early Christians fervently opposed infanticide, child abandonment,
abortion and suicide because they believed in the sanctity of the human being.
In their minds, the sanctity of the human
body did not come to an end when a person died. They saw the human being as
the crown of God’s creation, for man was
made in the image and likeness of God
(Gen.1:27) (p.49). “The saints, during their
earthly lives, were filled with the Holy Spirit.
And when they fulfill their course, the grace of
the Holy Spirit does not depart from their
souls or their bodies in the tombs” (St. John of
Damascus). Cremation denies and deprives us of the sacred tradition and benefits of the presence of saintly holy relics.
its original glory and beauty by continually resisting sin and temptation, repenting of our transgressions, and opening
our hearts, minds and bodies to the indwelling presence of God’s divine grace
through His only-begotten Son and livegiving Holy Spirit.
The only fire we should submit ourselves
to is the fire of God’s love and holy presence. St. Paul also says in today’s reading,
“13Each man’s work will become manifest; for
the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire and the fire will test what sort
of work each one has done…15If any man’s
work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though
he himself will be saved but only through
fire” (1Cor.3:14,15). Amen!
Because the Orthodox Faith affirms the
fundamental goodness of creation, it understands the body to be an integral part
St. Paul emphasizes this in the Epistle
of the human person and the temple of
reading from the 9th Sunday of Matthew: the Holy Spirit, and expects the resurrec“16Do you not know that you are God's tem- tion of the dead. The Church considers
ple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If cremation to be the deliberate desecration
anyone destroys God's temple, God will deand destruction of what God has made
stroy that person. For God's temple is holy
and ordained for us. The Church instead
and you are that temple” (1Cor.3:16-17). He insists that the body be buried so that the
repeats this again later, “Do you not know
natural physical process of decomposition
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
may take place. The Church does not
within you, which have from God? You are
grant funerals, either in the sanctuary, or
not your own” (1Cor.6:19). So, even though at the funeral home, or at any other place,
we may not have attained a level of saint- to persons who have chosen to be creliness like some of our spiritual predeces- mated. Additionally, memorial services
sors, nevertheless, God’s Holy Spirit lives with kolyva (boiled wheat) are not aland dwells within us.
lowed in such instances, inasmuch as the
similarity between the "kernel of wheat"
Conclusion
and the "body" has been intentionally deCremation is the denial and purposeful
stroyed. (
destruction of God’s human temple. As
follower’s of Christ, we are not dualists or http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/
spiritualists who believe that the material articles/article8083.asp)
world is inherently evil and to be dePage number quotations from:
spised. Rather, as Christians, we believe in Dust to Dust or Ashes to Ashes? A Biblical
the inherent goodness of the material
and Christian Examination of Cremation
world, especially our human bodies. Toby Alvin J. Schmidt, Regina Orthodox
gether, our body and soul, are created in
Press 2005.
God’s image and likeness. We are called
to redeem and transfigure the creation to
St. Paul. MN
Trivia for Pascha
What is the common custom that goes along with Pascha (Easter)?
1. Walking around the house 3 times
2. Cracking red eggs
3. Giving out palm fronds
4. Aplogizing to anyone you may have hurt by your previous actions
St. George
Youth
When someone says "Xristos Anesti", what is the proper response?
1. Anestasis Amartou
3. Efharisto
2. Alithos Anesti
4. Ne
What is the main component of the traditional Paschal meal?
1. Beef
2. Chicken
3. Gnu
4. Lamb
What is the day after Pascha called?
1. Ayapis
2. Tsoureki
3. Malias
4. Loukoumathes
How many candles make up the priest's
Bundle during the Paschal service?
1. 3
3. 1
2. 40
4. 33
What is the recurring miracle that occurs
on Holy Saturday?
1. Holy Fire
2. Sightings of saints
3. Resurrection of dead
4. Healing of the sick
What does Pascha celebrate?
1. The resurrection of Christ
2. The beginning of the world
3. The end of the world
4. Lunchtime
Sunday of Orthodoxy
The youth of St. George celebrate the restoration of icons
for use in church services and in the private devotional
life of Christians.
According to the Apostles' Creed, what side of the Father does Jesus sit on?
1. Left
2. Right
3. On top of
4. Under
Answers: 2, 2, 4, 1, 4, 1, 1, 2
Courtesy: FunTrivia.com. Used with permission
page 7
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage PAID
Twin Cities, MN
Permit No. 177
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
ST. GEORGE GREEK
ORTHODOX CHURCH
1111 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55105
Phone
Fax
651.222.6220
651.225.9276
www.stgeorgegoc.org
Glad Tidings
May 2013
WEEKDAY WORSHIP SCHE
SCHEDULE
DULE
Holy Week Services
Wednesday, May 1, 3pm - Holy Unction
Wednesday, May 1, 7pm—Bridegroom Service with Unction
Thursday, May 2, 9am-Vesperal Liturgy of the Mystical Supper
Thursday, May 2, 7pm-Holy Passion 12 Gospel Service
Friday, May 3, 9am-Royal Hours
Friday, May 3, 7pm-Lamentations Service
REGULAR WEEKLY SERVICES
Holy Confession: By Appointment
Vespers: (Sept. - May) Saturday 5:00 pm
Orthros: Sunday 8:15 am
Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene
Sunday School: (Sept. - May)
following Communion
Apostle Simon the Zealot
Divine Liturgy: Sunday 9:30 am
Divine Liturgy—Tuesday, May 7, 9am
Divine Liturgy at St. Iakovos Center—Friday, May 10,9am
SPPD Memorial Service
Service, Wednesday, May 21, 11am at Mears Park
Sts. Constantine and Helen
Divine Liturgy—Tuesday, May 21, 9am

May 2013
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Coming in June...
1
+PROPHET
JEREMIAH
2 Grand Old Day- Youth Parking Event
10 Loaves & Fishes @ Faith Lutheran
11 Patriarch Bartholomew's Nameday
12 Apodosis of Pascha
13 Ascension of our Lord
16 Father's Day
23 Pentecost
29 Sts. Peter & Paul; Summer Church
Camp Begins; Liturgy in Eau Claire, WI
30 Twelve Holy Apostles
5
+GREAT & HOLY
PASCHA
+ST. IRENE
Thursday
+3:00pm HOLY
UNCTION SERVICE
+7:00pm
BRIDEGROOM
SERVICE W/
UNCTION
7
2
+9:00am
VESPERAL
LITURGY OF
MYSTICAL
SUPPER
+7:00pm HOLY
PASSION - 12
GOSPELS
SERVICE
8
+STS. RAPHAEL,
+FAST DAY
NICHOLAS & IRENE
ST. AMALIA &
+9:00am LITURGYST. JOHN
St. George
THEOLOGIAN
Feastday
Observed
+12:00am
RESURRECTION
SERVICE
Saturday
3
+9:00am ROYAL
HOURS
+11:00am Youth
Retreat
+3:00pm DESCENT
CROSS VESPERS
+7:00pm
LAMENTATIONS
SERVICE
4
+9:00am VESPERAL
LITURGYDESCENT INTO
HADES
+11:00pm ORTHROS
OF RESURRECTION
+ HOLY AND GREAT WEEK - Strict Fast +
6
+PROPHET JOB
Friday
9
+PROPHET
ISAIAH
10
*9:00am LITURGY,
Lunch, Open
*12:00pm MEOCCA House, &
Meeting
Groundbreaking
at St. Iakovos
*7:00pm Parish
Retreat Center
Council
*10:30am Bright
Week Breakfast
+1:00am DIVINE
LITURGY- PASCHA
11
+APOSTLE SIMON
THE ZEALOT
+FAST DAY
+5:00pm VESPERS
*6:30pm FOCUS
MN Festive Dinner
at St. Mary OCA
+ BRIGHT/RENEWAL WEEK - CHRIST IS RISEN! +
12
13
14
Mother's Day
+ANTIPASCHA/
ST. THOMAS
15
16
+FAST DAY
17
+9:00am Liturgy
in Eau Claire, Wi
*11:00am SPPD
Police Memorial
Service at Mears
Park
+8:15am ORTHROS
+9:30am LITURGY
*12:00pm Acolyte
Training
18
+FAST DAY
+5:00pm VESPERS
*4:00pm Feed
the Hungry at
FOCUS, MN
19
20
+3RD SUN. PASCHAMYRRHBEARERS
21
+STS.
CONSTANTINE
& HELEN
+8:15am ORTHROS
+9:30am LITURGY
22
23
+FAST DAY
24
+FAST DAY
+9:00am LITURGY
GRADUATION
SUNDAY
*6:00pm Survivor
Resources
Walk-a-thon
Como Park - East
Pavillion
*4:00pm Feed
the Hungry at
FOCUS, MN
26
27
+4TH SUN. PASCHA- MEMORIAL DAY
PARALYTIC
- Office Closed
*7:00pm Bible
Study at Fr. Rick's
House
28
29
+FAST DAY
30
31
+FAST DAY
+8:15am ORTHROS
+9:30am LITURGY
+12:30pm Memorial
Prayers @
Roselawn
*4:00pm Feed
the Hungry at
FOCUS, MN
St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105
+ Rev. Father Richard Demetrius Andrews -- Phone: (651) 222-6220 -- www.stgeorgegoc.org +
25
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Parish Council Meeting Minutes
March 14, 2013
Attendees: President Tom Lampros, Vice President Joe Weiser, Secretary Sophronis Mantoles,, Joanna
Tzenis, Dan Simon, Fr. Richard Andrews, Michael Merkouris, Nanette Gomez, Bill Katsiyiannis, Frank
Nemeth
Absent: Alexis Bighley. Eric Chadwick, Jon Kennedy.
Guests: Christ Kontenakos and Steve Arsenault.
I.
Call to Order: 7:04pm
II.
Opening Prayers: 7:07pm
III.
Special Topic and Guests:
1.
Audit report Presentation: Steve Arsenault presented the report from the board of auditors for
the calendar year 2012. Steve presented the purpose of the auditing process and reiterated how
important the decision to hire a professional accountant has been. Steve also went into more details
explaining some of the committee’s general observations for 2012 and suggested recommendations for
2013. Some of the reported issues for 2012 were the single person process to automatically pay
accounts. This needs to be corrected. Individual reimbursements to individuals needs to be fixed as
well. Individuals need to have the Churches nonexempt letter before making purchases.
IV.
Submission of minutes from previous meeting: Nanette makes a motion to submit minutes
electronically and finalize them by next week (March 21st). Joe seconded the motion, motion passes
unanimously.
V.
Treasurer’s report: Dan Simon prepared and distributed the treasurer's report. The main items
are:
Jan - Feb 2013
1.
Income $33,162
2.
Expenses $49,693
3.
Percent under budget expenses 8%
4.
Stewardship $24,926
5.
Stewardship percent of goal 66%
Comparison to 2012
1.
Income $35781
2.
Expenses $46,611
3.
Percent under budget expenses 8%
4.
Stewardship $31,389
5.
Stewardship percent of goal 68%
CPA transition is going well, efforts are being invested in streamlining our accounting and monthly tasks
while resolving prior year accounts.
VI.
Investment committee report: Dan Simon presented the investment committee report. A
major decision was made to reinvest dividends to increase gains. The report for 2012 will be distributed
electronically.
VII.
Father's report: Father presented the following:
1.
Lenten Encyclical from the Archbishop of America Demetrios was read to the parish council
members.
2.
Update on Lydia the youth director. INS needs more information on the parish information. The
information was submitted to INS as requested.
3.
Great lent starts this coming Monday, March 18.
4.
Fr passed brochures on the Lenten Retreat and the Lenten Lecture series.
5.
Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos will be here on holy Friday evening service.
VIII.
Committee reports:
1.
Insurance committee: Committee switched insurance companies. The insurance company will
do an assessment of the property. Some stipulations are in place and once they are through we will be
getting a price break on our premium for the building.
2.
Stewardship Committee report: Tom presented the report from Alexis.
i.
Goals for 2013
ii.
Launch the eternal light society
iii.
Conduct a seminar
iv.
Sponsor two social events
v.
Formulate a committee of parishioners to help.
vi.
Proof the monthly deposits against the Deacon reports.
Father presented the stewardship report:
3.
Buildings and Grounds: Dan Simon presented the building and grounds report. Among the
material presented was update on the roof issue. Water collected on the roof is an issue. We have
warranty on the roof which will be inspected by duralast.
4.
Festival of the Nations (2013): Tom Lampros gave a quick update on the festival of the nations.
5.
Roselawn committee: Table the discussion for the next meeting.
IX.
Unfinished Business
1.
Strategic planning workshop and parish assessment: Joanna Tzenis presented her plan to have
an assessment for the parish after liturgy at the fellowship hall.
2.
Parish assembly strategic planning: One Saturday in May 18th 25th or June. An email will go
out for people to choose dates. Stewardship program will be scheduled later.
3.
Parish Assembly meeting on April 7th: Audit review, election of board of auditors and board of
elections.
4.
Administrative assistant: Update on the administrative assistant was given by Tom and Fr.
5.
Pew Configuration: Frank presented a plan to get the job completed in the next few days.
X.
New Business:
1.
None.
XI.
Adjournment and Closing Prayer: 10:46pm. Motion to adjourn made by Joe Weiser seconded
by Nanette Gomez.
All documents and reports submitted at the meeting are on file with the original copy of the minutes at
the church.